Leopard flounder (Bothus pantherinus) camouflaged on the seabed. When the leopard flounder is born it has an eye on each side of its body and swims up

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Leopard flounder (Bothus pantherinus) camouflaged on the seabed. When the leopard flounder is born it has an eye on each side of its body and swims upright. However, as it matures, its right eye migrates to the left side and the flounder begins to swim sideways. The flounder, which grows to about 35 centimetres in length, is able to change its colour to some extent to match its surroundings. This fish is found on the sandy bottoms of coastal coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific. It often buries itself in the sand, leaving only its eyes exposed. From this position the fish will jump out on its prey, crustaceans and small fish. Photographed in Bunaken, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

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Size: 4975px × 3471px
Photo credit: © GEORGETTE DOUWMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, aquatic, biological, biology, bothus, bunaken, camouflage, camouflaged, carnivore, carnivorous, eye, eyes, fauna, fish, flatfish, flounder, hidden, hiding, indonesia, leopard, marine, nature, pantherinus, seabed, sulawesi, underwater, wildlife, zoological, zoology